"Stars of Artemis Orb" ~ a comforting beacon during dark times

"Stars of Artemis Orb"

~ a comforting beacon during dark times

Make your own "Stars of Artemis Orb" using my tutorial below!

One of my favourite courses during my first year of university (... many years ago) was "Classics" and my most adored Greek deity is the Goddess "Artemis".
Artemis was strong and independent and was a fierce and accurate huntress.  According to Greek legend, she had been tricked by Apollo, who'd challenged her into shooting her arrow over the sea to strike a distant object in the waters.  She did so, not knowing that the object had in fact been the love of her life, Orion.
Heartbroken that she had caused his passing, she used her powers to turn him into stars and with her arrow shot him into the night sky where he appears to us today as the constellation "Orion".

Artemis is known as the Goddess of Light and she illuminates the way, inspiring us through "the dark times", giving us courage to push through to better and brighter places.
Follow along with me in the tutorial below and create a "Stars of Artemis Orb", that will not only add a stunning effect to any room, but will also be a beautiful reminder that "you can push through" whatever challenges you may face ... and reach "the light at the end of the tunnel".

You will need:

• rubber balloon
• scissors
• sharp crafting knife
• piece of sheer fabric large enough to gather up and around the inflated balloon
• kitchen blender
• medium/large shallow plastic bin
• paper for pulping
• Arnold Grummer® large pour handmold kit
• cellulose sponge
• a large flat waterproof surface or tray (I used my countertop and kept towels handy)
• absorbent towels or handcloths
• artists flat paintbrush
• decoupage glue (or school glue)
• a support such as a large glass or a plastic container
• woodburning iron (optional)
• battery operated LED microlights (DO NOT use an open flame to illuminate!)
• 3 small dowels or twigs and some jute twine (optional)

Instructions:

Tear your paper (I used black) for pulping into approximately 2" x 2" manageable squares and place into your blender pitcher along with about 2 cups of water.  Blend well (30-45 seconds) on high and pour into a bowl.

You will need to make enough pulp for a minimum of 2 cast sheets.  You can make additional pulp if you're using a large balloon.  Set aside.

Fill your plastic bin with a couple of inches of water.  Assemble the AG handmold kit.  You will not require the cover screen for this step so you may set it aside.  I recommend using the Arnold Grummer large handmold for this project so that you'll have an ample supply of pulpy sheet to create your vessel.  Place it into you bin of water.

Pour your paper pulp into the mold and agitate with your fingers to evenly distribute the pulp over the screen.

Gently lift the mold from the water and tilt slightly to drain into the bin.  Undo the velcro straps and lift the mold up and away from the cast pulp, paper screen and support grid.  Place the stack onto a waterproof surface (in my case the kitchen counter).

Spread your sheer fabric out flat over the surface of the wet pulp stack and with an even motion, flip the stack (along with the sheer) face down onto the countertop.  If you're using a portable waterproof surface such as a cookie sheet, you can place the cookie sheet on top of the stack and sheer to help you in flipping it over.

Remove the support grid and paper screen.  The wet pulp should now be transferred to the sheer fabric.

Place the inflated balloon onto the centre of the pulp sheet.  Carefully gather the sheer fabric together around and toward the top of the balloon.  Holding it all in place with one hand, use the other to gently sponge away the excess water from the pulp.

When you've removed enough water to ensure the pulp will not "slide" from the surface of the balloon, remove the sheer and turn the balloon upside down into a narrow, round container to support it while you cast the second sheet of pulp.

Cast a second pulp sheet and repeat the steps to flip it onto the sheer fabric.  Carefully position the now "half cast" balloon onto the center of this second sheet and again, carefully gather the sheer up and around the balloon, concentrating on covering any bare areas of the balloon.  As before, use your cellulose sponge to gently press and remove the excess water.

If you have any bare spots, you can utilize the cover screen from the kit to "free cast" small amounts of pulp that can be applied to the surface of the balloon casting and gently press away the excess water using the sponge.

Do not worry about the pulp not covering the balloon's "tie".  You will want that exposed in the end, in order to pop your balloon and remove its remnants.

Place your slightly damp but formed balloon casting upside down onto your support container.

Prepare a small amount of watered down decoupage or school glue in a dish and using an artist's paintbrush, cover the entire surface of the sphere with the watery adhesive.  This will give strength to the casting and help make it rigid.  Set aside in a warm dry place and allow to completely dry.

Once it's dry, pop the balloon.  Trim the opening of the orb so that you can easily remove the balloon and any of its remnants.

Now you have a handcast paper orb!

Now comes the REALLY fun part!

EXERCISE CAUTION WHILE PERFORMING THIS PART OF THE TUTORIAL!

Using a woodburning iron (or soldering iron) pierce tiny holes into the cast sphere in any kind of pattern you wish.  If you do not have a woodburning iron or do not wish to use one (especially if you are doing this tutorial with youngsters) you can use a very sharp pencil, a beaders awl or anything sharp and pointy to make your pokes.

If you decide to use the woodburning iron method, keep your pressure firm but quick.  If you do happen to see a "hot" spot, you can simply and carefully extinguish it by pinching it out with your fingers.

If you'd like to display your sphere luminary as I have, you'll need a few short dowels or twigs.  Trim the twigs to equal length.  Using jute twine, lash the twigs snuggly together at the centre to form a display support.  Extend the legs outward to form a tripod support.

Now you can mount your sphere luminary onto its special pedestal and place the battery operated LED lights inside.  The weight of the battery pack itself will help keep the orb stable on its twig pedestal.

I loved creating this tutorial!  The orb is so magical and it makes a wonderful and comforting nightlight for any child's room ... or simply a great conversation piece as it reflects its beautiful pattern onto nearby walls and surfaces.

And your lights don't HAVE to be white!  Change it up!  Put in some multi-coloured ones at Christmas time!  Try orange or purple at Halloween!  And red on Valentine's Day!

Your poke patterns can be adapted to reflect the occasion on which you plan to use it!

Just make sure to use battery operated lighting inside ... NEVER an open flame!

And you can always add little embellishments such as beads or glitter or sparkly gems to the exterior of your sphere to bling it up during the daytime when it's not lit!

This was such a fun project!  I really hope you'll try it and use your artistic license to make it your own.

Thanks again for joining me and I do hope you'll visit again for more tutorials and fun creations!  Let me know what you think!  I'd love to hear from you!

If you're interested in seeing more of my creations, please visit me at the following links:

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